B2 Visa Denied (Answered a question incorrectly)

[fromthemargins 2]

Hello. My wife recently attended her Visa interview at the US Embassy in Bangkok.

 

She was denied a visa, mostly without the benefit of completing her interview. At her interview she erroneously told the interviewer that my business is "located" in America - which was one of the first questions she was asked. I believe this is why she was denied. But she was not given the opportunity to continue the interview and demonstrate the facts of our residency here in Thailand. The interviewer just handed her passport back to her and ended the interview.

 

The truth is, my work is part-time and remote. I am mostly retired and work from home (as a writer) in Khun Han. I have no intention of ever leaving Thailand long-term or living in America because I love our home and our life in Thailand. Life is much better in Thailand.

 

Further, my wife is deeply rooted in Thailand. She has a business in Khun Han, with business license, fees paid and a commercial lease. We also have a lease on a home and are building a home in her village. Her whole family is here and she is deeply connected to them - especially her elderly Father. She is a generational Thai citizen and would never live outside of Thailand.

 

Unfortunately she was not given the opportunity to share any information at her interview because of her very first answer about my business (I am pretty sure). We brought tons of documentation to the interview, leases, licenses, bank statements, etc....

 

My wife is happy to re-apply for her Visa but we want to avoid this unfortunate occurrence at her next interview. As many have said, they have notes and providing a different answer to the same question might tank her efforts again.

 

We were married in Thailand on 12-5-2024. My wife has never met my family and that is what we plan to do in America. Go for a short visit to meet family/friends and then come home. Again, zero intention on staying in America any longer than a month. Thailand is home.

Sorry to ramble. Thank you for any insight or direction!

[Boiler 47,913]

They interview people not documentation 

 

2 or 3 questions is normal

 

i assume you are a USC

 

sadly so many change their mind at baggage reclaim 

[fromthemargins 2]

Understood, Boiler. Thank you for the response. To clarify: I am a US citizen. My wife is a Thai Citizen. I am assuming the incorrect answer, "in America" to the question, "where does your husband work" is what derailed the interview. The interviewer never even got to any questions about my wife. The interview stopped right there.

[OldUser 10,384]

7 minutes ago, fromthemargins said:

Understood, Boiler. Thank you for the response. To clarify: I am a US citizen. My wife is a Thai Citizen. I am assuming the incorrect answer, "in America" to the question, "where does your husband work" is what derailed the interview. The interviewer never even got to any questions about my wife. The interview stopped right there.

It's possible. Most of the times, though, decision is already made before the interview. 

[Boiler 47,913]

The information they mainly need is on the DS 160, for most cases.

 

my impression that most cases are a done deal and the interview is performative, they are required to do it.

[fromthemargins 2]

Interesting. Ok, so find a way to explain more on DS160 and hope for the best. Thanks. We will give that a go. And will tune in to the Live Lawyer show now. Thanks for that as well...

[garebear397 106]

Yeah unfortunately B2 visas from high risk countries are difficult to obtain, and really they don't need much to deny -- just being married with a US citizen can be enough to deny so you may have done nothing "wrong" in the application or interview. Just some anecdotal evidence, while we were living in Chile (myself US citizen, wife is Chilean) my wife did her B2 visa interview in Bolivia (long and different story) which is a higher risk country than Chile. As she was waiting in line she could see everyone ahead of her getting interviewed -- each one would get asked 2 maximum 3 questions, the officer barely seemed to consider their answers and then denying all the applications that my wife at least saw while waiting. She was approved, even though she was married to a US citizen, but honestly a large part of it was probably because she wasn't from Bolivia. 

 

This is not to discourage you -- obviously people do get visas from Thailand and other similar countries, but just to be realistic and not count on getting one as you make travel and visit plans (consider meeting family in 3rd party country). But wait some amount of time (general rule of thumb is 6 months or so), apply again with as much evidence as you can, and hope for a favorable officer and outcome. 

Edited 1 hour ago by garebear397

[fromthemargins 2]

This was incredibly helpful, and kind. Thank you for taking the time to respond so thoughtfully. I am glad, too, because I was all hopped up on having her re-apply right away. Waiting a bit makes sense. Thanks again!!

[Boiler 47,913]

A long time since I filled in a Ds160 but my recollection is that the questions were all factual, no explaining.

[garebear397 106]

33 minutes ago, fromthemargins said:

This was incredibly helpful, and kind. Thank you for taking the time to respond so thoughtfully. I am glad, too, because I was all hopped up on having her re-apply right away. Waiting a bit makes sense. Thanks again!!

Yeah I mean there is no official waiting period or anything, like I said it's more a suggestion / based on others experience. But the sentiment is if you apply a bunch of times and in quick succession it can see "desperate" to get into the US, which would increase likelihood for denial. Only time re-applying quicker than that would make sense is if something fundamental about your application has changed (and that change significantly changes your chances of approval) -- e.g. you were unmarried and now you're married, no job to now have a job, etc. 

[garebear397 106]

34 minutes ago, Boiler said:

A long time since I filled in a Ds160 but my recollection is that the questions were all factual, no explaining.

Yeah I think you are right. So it would be more about just applying again with mostly the same application -- and just hoping for a different officer or circumstance.